The Christmas Portraits

around here

snow snow snow

A view of the beginnings of a storm, and an earlier view of this morning's "warning" sky. We're ready to nest for the holidays, another good reason I did most of my holiday preparations in October while I was able.

30 weeks

We've made it into the 30s, I'm so happy! Another 4 to 6 weeks would be so wonderful. Then these babies can be in my arms right away and home with us too. Every day, every week counts for so much. They had perfect heart rate tracings at the non-stress test at the hospital today. They are growing well, growing evenly, and kicking each other and me non-stop. I'm feeling a little "done" with being pregnant, but I have to push that thought aside, because they aren't ready yet.

home

I'm back home with my family, just time for the holidays. We had some holiday preparations and fun to catch up on. I mostly just sit still and take it all in. Which is a nice perspective to have as a mom. Normally, I wouldn't be slowing down this much or enjoying every little moment as much. I'd be stressed while I juggled so many things; with only brief pauses to reflect and take it in. But right now, I am full of pauses, I am full of taking it slow.

Here and there...

I've hit some great pregnancy milestones along the way. The big one this week being the 28 week mark, where babies survival odds skyrocket from when this all started just three weeks ago. Gone from 50% to over 90%... I hate that word "survival", not a word you want in the same sentence as babies. Baby A is 2lb 11oz. now and Baby B is 2lb. 7oz. They've each gained a whole pound in the last two weeks. Next big milestone I hear is 34 weeks, but there will be celebrating at 29 (when my hospital can take me back), 30, 31, 32, 33...even hoping for 36!

Haven't seen my other two babies in three weeks, since that day I was transferred 6 hours away to a hospital that could handle babies under 29 weeks. So grateful I haven't had to use the NICU beds here. I've had such wonderful care and have met such wonderful nurses, doctors and specialists along the way. But so ready to watch the kids get excited for Xmas in real life and not over Skype.

Food

Homemade foods versus pre-packaged foods - candlelight versus fluorescent light - music versus beeping sounds - company versus loneliness. Grateful that I've been welcomed into the cozy home of dear friends and into the home care program for growing these babies.

Can you guess which is which? Ha ha.

Drawings

Maeva sure loves to draw, here are some recent ones.

a cat - marbles - Daddy and Adam making the fireplace - bumbles